Water level indicator for engine radiators



Nov. 4, 1952 A. M. THURMoND ET Al. 2,616,295

WATER LEVEL INDICATOR FOR ENGINE RADIATORS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 'U0 FIG.z,

INVENTORS ALLEN M. T HURMOND BY@ DoNALD V. THQQNE A-v-roamavs Patentedov. 4, 195:2

OFFICE WATER LEVEL INDICATOR FOR ENGINE RADIATORS Allen M. Thurmond andDonald V. Thorne, Alice, Tex.

Application February 9, 1951, Serial No. 210,193

(C1. 'I3-323)v 2 Claims.

This invention relates to water level indicators, and more particularlyto a continuously indicating water level indicator for an engineradiator.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved waterlevel indicator which can be easily mounted on an existing engineradiator and will continuously indicate the level of the water in theradiator by visual inspection; which may be mounted on a support, suchas a structural element, spaced from the radiator when it is used inconnection with a fixed engine; which will not cause leakage of theengine cooling uid; and which is simple and durable in construction,economical to manufacture, easy to install and positive and effective inuse.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claims in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of an engine` radiator and a waterlevel indicator illustrative of the invention, operatively mounted onthe radiator;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

With continued reference to the drawing, the radiator thereinillustrated is of well known or conventional construction and has aframe or housing I surrounding a radiator core II, and providing a toptank I2 and a bottom tank I3. The top of the radiator is provided with afiller opening surrounded by a ller neck I4, the upper end of which isclosed by a removable radiator cap l5. The bottom end of the radiator isprovided with a drain opening surrounded by a boss or tting I6.

A bracket I1 is secured at one end to the radiator and has an elongatedarm I8 projecting outwardly from the radiator and substantiallyhorizontally disposed.

A frame I9 issecured to the arm I8 of the bracket I'I and comprises arectangular, substantially square metal plate having elongated slots 29and 2I therein disposed one adjacent each of two opposite edges of theplate and extending along these opposite edges substantially parallel tothe adjacent edges of the plate and to each other. These slots dividethe plate into a center portion 22 and two side portions or arms 23 and24 spaced from and substantially parallel to the adjacent edges of thecenter portion and joined at the corresponding ends to the centerportion by connecting portions 25 and 2B of the plate,

which connecting portions are disposed at the top of the plate when theplate or frame is mounted on the bracket arm I8, as illustrated inFigure 1.

Cleats 21 and 28 extend across the slots 20 and 2|, respectively, withtheir ends in engagement at the opposite sides of the correspondingslots with the side of the plate I9 remote from the bracket arm I8 andbolts 29 and 30 extend through registering apertures in the cleats andin the bracket arm and clamp the plate between the cleats and thebracket arm. By loosening the bolts 29 and 39, the plate or frame I9 canbe adjusted vertically relative to the bracket arm I9 and secured inadjusted position by tightening the bolts.

Suitable elements are mounted on the center portion 22 of the plate toconstitute with this center portion a hollow casing 3| of rectangularshape. The means constituting the casing 3l includes two side members 32and 33 disposed against the side of the plate I9 remote from the bracketarm I3 in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to eachother and secured to the plate by suitable means, such as the screws 34.

A bottom end member 35 extends between the bottom ends of the sidemembers 32 and 33 and is secured to the plate I9, while a top end memfber 3E extends between the upper ends of the side members 32 and 33 andis also secured to the plate I9. The bottom and top members 35 and 36are substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart apredetermined distance, and the bottom member is provided with anopening 3l into which is threaded a fitting 3B projecting from the lowersurface of the bottom member 35, while the top member is provided withan opening receiving a tube 394 which extends from the lower side to alocation above the upper side of the top end member 36 and is providedabove the top end member with a downwardly directed elbow bend 49, sothat the tube will provide a breather or vent for the upper portion ofthe space within the hollow casing and will prevent dirt and trash fromfalling into the casing through this vent or breather o-pening.

The inner edges of the side, bottom and top members remote from theplate I9 are rabbeted out to provide a groove 4I of rectangular shape.in outline and of rectangular cross-sectional shape surrounding theopening provided by these side and end members and a gasket 42 ofrectangular shape and formed of suitable resilient sealing material isdisposed in this groove.

A plate 43 of suitable transparent material, such as glass, is receivedin groove 4I against the outer face of the gasket 42 and a glassretaining plate 44 is disposed against the faces of the side and endmembers of the casing remote from the plate I9. This plate 44 ismarginally secured to the side and end members of the casing by suitablescrews 45 and is provided with an opening 46 of rectangular shape whichexposes the major portion of the glass 43. The portion of the plate 44surrounding the opening 46 therein marginally overlies the glass plate43 so that the frame plate 44 compresses the glass plate against thegasket 42 to provide a water-tight seal between the glass plate and theside and end members of the casing.

A pipe or conduit 47 formed of a viiexible material, such as a length ofrubber tubing, and having a bend intermediate its length is connected atone end to the radiator drain fitting IB by an elbow tting 4B and isconnected at its other end to the tting 38 secured in the opening 3'l inthe bottom end member 35 of the casing 3l. This pipe or conduit connectsthe drain opening in the bottom of the radiator to the opening in thebottom of the casing 3 i, so that cooling fluid, such as water, from theradiator will flow into the lcasing and the level of the iiuid in thecasing visible through the transparent plate 43 will be the same as thelevel of the cooling uid in the radiator. The frame I9 may be adjustedvertically of the bracket arm i8 until the level of the cooling uid inthe radiator when the radiator is full is just below the top end of thetransparent plate 43.

The transparent plate is provided with suitable indicating marks, asdesignated at v'.50 and 5I, indicating whether the radiator is full orwhether the cooling fluid in the radiator is dangerously low.

While the water level indicator has been'illustrated as mounted on theradiator itself by the bracket Il, it is obvious that the indicator maybe mounted on some other supporting structure, such as a buildingstructural element, at the proper height relative to the radiator andconnected to the radiator by a conduit 41 which may be extended asnecessary.

rIhe invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an engine cooling radiator having a top endprovided with a filler opening and a bottom end provided with a drainopening, a bracket secured to said radiator and projecting outwardlytherefrom, a frame disposed adjacent said bracket, means attaching saidframe to said bracket for vertical movements of adjustment of the formerrelative to the latter, a hollow casing mounted on said frame and havinga sight glass in onel side and an opening in the bottom thereof, and aconduit connected at one end to the bottom of said radiator yand at itsother end to the bottom of said casing connectving the drain opening insaid radiator with the opening in the Vbottom of said casing, saidcasing `being positioned relative to said radiator so that the top ofsaid sight glass is near the level of the top of said radiator.

V2. A water level indicator comprising a supportingbracket, a frameplate adjustably mounted on said bracket, side and end member securedtosaid frame plate at one side thereof in surrounding relationship to aclosed space, said side and end members being recessed along their edgesremote from said frame plate and adjacent said Yspace to provide agroove surrounding said space, a gasket in said groove, a plate oftransparent material marginally received in said groove and disposedagainst said gasket, a clamp plate secured to said side and end membersand overlying said plate of transparent material to hold the latter insealing engagement with said gasket, said clamp plate having an openingtherein exposing said plate of transparent material and the end memberssecured to said frame plate each having an opening therethrough, and aconduit connected at one end to one of said end members in communicationwith the opening therethrough for connecting said space with a watercontainer, said frame plate having slots therein extending one alongeach of said side members. cleats extending one across each of saidslots and bearing at their ends against the side of said frame plateremote from said bracket, and bolts extending through registeringapertures in said cleats and said bracket clamping said frame platebetween said cleats and said bracket.

ALLEN M. THURMOND. DONALD V. THORNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record vin the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,320,755 lGrikscheit Nov. 4,1919 1,429,832 Bauer et al Sept. 19, 1922 1,630,632 Pekich May 31, 1927"1,751,016 ONeill Mar. 18, 1930

